F4E Director cuts the ribbon of ITER Poloidal Field coil feeder in ASIPP

Representatives from China and Europe at the ceremony for the completion of the ITER Poloidal Field (PF) coil feeder manufactured in China

The success of ITER lies on the good collaboration
between the seven Parties striving to deliver fusion energy. Building a
stronger and deeper partnership with all countries has been one of the key
priorities set by Johannes Schwemmer, F4E Director, and during his recent visit
to China he succeeded in establishing closer ties. Meetings with senior representatives from
China’s ITER Domestic Agency, in order to discuss the overall progress of the
project, combined with visits to key manufacturing facilities, have proven
extremely informative and productive for both parties.

One of the highlights of the visit has been the
ceremony marking the completion of the first ITER Poloidal Field (PF) coil
feeder manufactured in China. Representatives from China’s authorities, ITER
China, ITER Organization, F4E, and industrial partners, were invited to the
Institute of Plasma Physics of China’s Academy of Sciences (ASIIP) to celebrate
this impressive technical achievement. To
honour the presence of Europe at the ceremony, and underline the value of
international collaboration, the Director of F4E was asked to cut the ribbon
marking the successful fabrication of the component. Media were also present to
capture this important moment and Johannes Schwemmer took the opportunity to
congratulate ITER China. “It’s a very difficult component with a lot of new
technologies like high-temperature superconductors…so China is showing that it is
the strongest supporter for ITER” he said.

Magnet feeders perform
two vital tasks for the operation of the ITER Tokamak: they control the
cryogenic liquids which are needed to cool down the temperature of the magnets,
and they connect the magnets to their power supplies. In total, 31
superconducting feeders will relay electrical power and cryogens through the
warm-cold barrier to the ITER magnets.

The ITER Poloidal Field (PF) coil feeder manufactured in China

To watch extracts
from the ceremony click to the links from CCTV and CNTV